This is a late entry about the meeting in January
Jim Brock travelled to the House in Diphagane on 2011/01/23 for a meeting
with Pastor Chris Maupa.
with Pastor Chris Maupa.
Pst. Maupa & Jim talked about the work and training for approximately
2 hours.
2 hours.
Concerning the current status of the churches we learned:
There is a ‘Mother’ church. It is located at Diphagane.
Pst. Maupa is the only Baptist pastor in the area.
There is church ‘Council’ of 7 members. They are the pastor, 2 males and
4 females. If this council serves only for Diphagane Church or for all the
current churches has not been determined.
4 females. If this council serves only for Diphagane Church or for all the
current churches has not been determined.
Mother Church: Diphagane Church, located 2 km from Diphagane House.
Attendance = 30 per pastor.
Matlalaotwane Baptist Church, located aprox. 70km from House.
Attendance = 25 per pastor
Mmotong(sp) Baptist Church, located aprox. 70km from House.
Attendance = 15 per pastor
Madibaneng(sp) Baptist Church, located aprox. 70km from House.
Attendance = 15 per pastor
Church Language is Pedi with a small amount of English.
Pst. Maupa and Jim Brock discussed the need for a work that will train the
local church members in evangelism and discipleship and then launch them
out where they can have an experience where they see God using their life
to help the life of others. We both agree that ‘this’ experience is life-changing
for a church member and is often the event that transforms a marginal person
into an active servant-directed member that incorporates evangelism and
discipleship into their lives.
local church members in evangelism and discipleship and then launch them
out where they can have an experience where they see God using their life
to help the life of others. We both agree that ‘this’ experience is life-changing
for a church member and is often the event that transforms a marginal person
into an active servant-directed member that incorporates evangelism and
discipleship into their lives.
We looked at some evangelism and discipleship materials from IPS that
Jim & Brenda have seen used effectively in Mozambique. We discussed
the need for the first phase of our training to be only with the pastor so
that when we begin training in the churches then the pastor and the
missionary could team-teach most subjects. The reasoning is that the
missionary is temporary. The long-term goal is to develop Pastors and
leaders who will continue the training process without the missionary.
This concept was well received by the pastor.
Jim & Brenda have seen used effectively in Mozambique. We discussed
the need for the first phase of our training to be only with the pastor so
that when we begin training in the churches then the pastor and the
missionary could team-teach most subjects. The reasoning is that the
missionary is temporary. The long-term goal is to develop Pastors and
leaders who will continue the training process without the missionary.
This concept was well received by the pastor.
We discussed the teaching process of first teaching the materials to the
church members. Then teaching how we taught the materials. Then have
students teach in small groups. And then have volunteer students teach the
whole learning group. Evaluation is then done by asking the full group two
questions about the student’s teaching. The questions are: What did they
do that was clear? What did they do that could have been clearer?
church members. Then teaching how we taught the materials. Then have
students teach in small groups. And then have volunteer students teach the
whole learning group. Evaluation is then done by asking the full group two
questions about the student’s teaching. The questions are: What did they
do that was clear? What did they do that could have been clearer?
After a few student teachers are evaluated by the group each new
teacher only wants to do the ‘clear’ things and not do the ‘not-clear’
things. This allows a learning process that fits the local mindset of
the people in that they select that which is ‘clear’ and they select that
which is ‘not-clear’. By this process we will model for the students
how they should approach their own teaching of the materials.
teacher only wants to do the ‘clear’ things and not do the ‘not-clear’
things. This allows a learning process that fits the local mindset of
the people in that they select that which is ‘clear’ and they select that
which is ‘not-clear’. By this process we will model for the students
how they should approach their own teaching of the materials.
The teaching approach was approved by the pastor in that it would not
embarrass the students as they learned and yet is still critical in a way to
help them develop and improve their individual teaching style.
embarrass the students as they learned and yet is still critical in a way to
help them develop and improve their individual teaching style.
Initiation of Phase 1
On Feb. 5th we plan on making our next trip to start teaching and training
Pst. Maupa to teach the evangelism tool ‘The Home Bible Reading
Program’ by Carroll Shaw. We will teach the pastor by the same model
as we will teach the church members. We will also start working with
Pst. Maupa to translate the materials into Pedi.
Pst. Maupa to teach the evangelism tool ‘The Home Bible Reading
Program’ by Carroll Shaw. We will teach the pastor by the same model
as we will teach the church members. We will also start working with
Pst. Maupa to translate the materials into Pedi.
Pst. Maupa has set aside the evening of Sat. 5 Feb. for our first training.
This will give us 2 hours of training time with him on that evening.
This will give us 2 hours of training time with him on that evening.
Phase 2
This phase will be marked by our teaching the evangelism tool in the
churches.
churches.
It is my hope that that we will be ready to begin training in the churches by
the first week in April.
the first week in April.
We will have to work with Pst. Maupa to find a day when he and the
church members can commit to a full-day training session. This, along
with many other details, are still to be worked out. The most important
issue is that a strategy has been discussed and accepted. And that
relationships and visions for the work are again moving in a positive
direction.
church members can commit to a full-day training session. This, along
with many other details, are still to be worked out. The most important
issue is that a strategy has been discussed and accepted. And that
relationships and visions for the work are again moving in a positive
direction.
Translation of teaching materials:
Pst. Maupa has stated that there is justification in the time and effort to
translate the materials we will be using into Pedi. After some discussion
it appears that the orthography for Pedi was transferred from English
thus the phonetic correlation to the orthographies of both languages are
very much the same. As a result, learning to read in either language
results in a basic sound reading of the other. At church I talked with
some secondary students. They said that both English and Pedi are used
in teaching in their classrooms. They said that they read both languages.
translate the materials we will be using into Pedi. After some discussion
it appears that the orthography for Pedi was transferred from English
thus the phonetic correlation to the orthographies of both languages are
very much the same. As a result, learning to read in either language
results in a basic sound reading of the other. At church I talked with
some secondary students. They said that both English and Pedi are used
in teaching in their classrooms. They said that they read both languages.
On the 5th of Feb. we will take some time to help Pst. Maupa understand
what we will need from him for us to type and produce Pedi materials
even though we will not be able to read it.
what we will need from him for us to type and produce Pedi materials
even though we will not be able to read it.
We will be buying some supplies for him to use in the translation process
from special gift money Brenda & I have on account.
from special gift money Brenda & I have on account.
Pst. Maupa feels that there is value in the evangelism and training
materials being produced in both English and Pedi. We can have the
English evangelism materials ready by April, 2011 when we hope to
launch Phase 2. The Pedi translation may require more time. It is not my
intention to delay the launch of Phase 2 teaching in the churches simply
because the Pedi translation may not be ready.
materials being produced in both English and Pedi. We can have the
English evangelism materials ready by April, 2011 when we hope to
launch Phase 2. The Pedi translation may require more time. It is not my
intention to delay the launch of Phase 2 teaching in the churches simply
because the Pedi translation may not be ready.
All in all it was great first meeting. Pst. Maupa is clearly a man of both
worldly and spiritual maturity. He has a very clear desire for teaching
and training in his churches/mission. I believe that this work could result
in a strong effort of evangelism by the church members reaching out
with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
worldly and spiritual maturity. He has a very clear desire for teaching
and training in his churches/mission. I believe that this work could result
in a strong effort of evangelism by the church members reaching out
with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please pray for us as we and Pst. Maupa work and prepare ourselves
to used by God among the Pedi People.
Jim Brock
to used by God among the Pedi People.
